Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Community Based Biodiesel Production from Trap Grease: The Evaluation of Technical and Economic Feasibilities
EPA Grant Number: SU836038Title: Community Based Biodiesel Production from Trap Grease: The Evaluation of Technical and Economic Feasibilities
Investigators: Lu, Mingming , Williams, Brittany , Gregory, Jarod , Wang, Jingjing , Schutte, Mark , Tu, Qingshi , Wang, Wendy
Institution: University of Cincinnati
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2011 through August 14, 2012
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The project objective of Phase I is to work with the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Greater Cincinnati in the development of both value added and environmentally friendly ways to make trap grease into biodiesel. Fat, oil and grease (FOG) are the number one cause of public sewer line blockage, which usually costs the community millions of dollars. Trap grease (also called brown grease) is considered a burden to the commercial food services due to the cost of disposal. Trap grease is an environmental nuisance to the general public and traditionally ends up in landfills. In MSD, trap grease comes from the skimmers of the primary settling tanks as well as restaurant or residential grease traps obtained through professional pumpers. The goals of the Phase I project were to (1) set up a trap grease inventory for our community (the Greater Cincinnati area, and (2) perform a case study on trap grease biodiesel production for our community, including technical and economical feasibility analysis.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In the Phase I P3 project, the group has conducted an inventory study of the trap grease. After a thorough literature review, the inventory was estimated in three approaches: using the national average published in an earlier study; requesting data from the MSD, and collecting data from individual grease haulers serving the Greater Cincinnati area. Results from the latter two approaches agreed very well. It is estimated that our trap grease generation is between 5-10 lb/person/year, which totals up to 3 million pounds of usable grease, and at least 20,000 gallons of biodiesel per year. The per person trap grease generated in Cincinnati is much lower than the national average (13.37 lb/person/year), and therefore, it is essential to conduct the inventory study as the basis for trap grease reuse.
The trap grease mainly consists of water (58.94%), free fatty acids (FFAs) (20.69%) and non-extractable part/solids (18.17%), with the lipid part of the trap grease being almost all FFAs. The group was able to extract the oil content from the trap grease without using chemicals/solvents that add both cost and safety concerns to any potential industrial users. The technology is an adaptation of existing knowledge to result in innovative approaches, with the potential for invention disclosure. In addition, the 50% + moisture was not removed before oil extraction, which saves a significant amount of energy. The optimum operating conditions were studied with respect to the extraction dosage, temperature and duration. It was found that 60°C is the optimum extraction temperature, and the optimum extraction duration is 90 minutes.
Conclusions:
Our Phase I project was considered successful, as it realized the goals proposed, and it stimulated the Phase II ideas. The biodiesel conversion research proposed in Phase II is based on Phase I results that the major oil fraction in the trap grease is the FFAs. Together, the two phases will bring the community scale trap grease to biodiesel operation closer to reality. We also went beyond the Phase I scope to investigate the possibility of recycling the waste solvent from titration (which contributes to the sustainability of the project). The Phase I project also inspired a further MS level research topic on the compositional study of the trap grease oil fractions. The project balanced the elements of the People, Prosperity and the Planet program. If the Phase II is successful, it may result in patent applications, which will be beneficial to the formation of new companies (specializing in the pretreatment of trap grease).
Critical to the success of the project are the group’s 6 years of biodiesel research and education, partners who are interested and willing to support the work, and dedicated students from various disciplines.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Tu Q, Lu M, Knothe G. Glycerolysis with crude glycerin as an alternative pretreatment for biodiesel production from grease trap waste:Parametrictudy and energy analysis. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2017;162:504-511. |
SU836038 (Final) SU835291 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Trap grease, wastewater treatment plants, biodiesel, extraction, free fatty acid, titrationP3 Phase II:
Community Based Biodiesel Production from Trap Grease: The Evaluation of Technical and Economic Feasibilities | 2013 Progress Report | 2014 Progress Report | 2015 Progress Report | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.